This
story was one that as a writer, I struggled with. Whether we like it
or not, sometimes our own experiences thread into the plot. Not
always but from time to time it happens. Often I find it therapeutic.
It helps me to either work out the problem or at the very least, see
it more clearly. But this one was so raw and personal that I actually
had to put it away for a while. I didn’t know if I would be able to
finish it.

Our
heroine, Mikaylah MacDonough, is dealing with an empty nest for the
first time and when I started writing this story, so was I. It was a
difficult topic for me to tackle. I found my deepest darkest fears
surfacing as I wrote. For anyone who has also experienced this, it is
a time of both excitement and anticipation for the next steps in your
child’s life but it is also overshadowed with sadness and fear,
real and imagined. On one hand you want them to go out into the world
and take it, on the other there is still that overwhelming need to
keep them safe and protected from that same big scary place.

Autumn’s
Healing - Blurb

Rarely do we
get to pick our battles… Often, they choose us.

Single
mom Mikaylah MacDonough and her only daughter Autumn have been on
their own a long time. So, when Autumn goes off to school, it seems
only natural for Kaylah to pull up stakes and follow, though with
some clear-cut boundaries, of course. She’s determined to give
Autumn space to enjoy the whole college experience but remain close
enough for emergencies, meals and laundry. But when the closing date
of the current house overlaps with taking possession of the ‘new’
house, along with orientation week, Autumn has to go it alone. From
that moment on, Kaylah’s dreams of a new beginning turn into a
complete and total nightmare.

When
former serviceman Jerusalem Aames drives up to the century-old Cleary
house, he sees dollar signs for himself and his all-veteran crew. The
rundown, old place would finally put his fledgling
construction-renovation firm in the black. But the moment he meets
the gorgeous homeowner who had been duped into buying the money-pit,
his attraction is swift and instantaneous.

However,
there’s something very strange going on in the dilapidated house
that has nothing to do with rotting timbers or shoddy wiring.
Whatever it is, it’s affecting Kaylah’s state of mind, and Salem
finds himself in a battle he’s not sure he can win.

What
Reviewers are saying:

From the start, I was intrigued with Kaylah and
her old house. The idea of the paranormal good or bad makes the story
thrilling. Salem and Kaylah are both survivors and I appreciate how
well they are suited for one another. Then comes the shocking truth
that Salem uncovers and I was flabbergasted, did not expect the turn
in this story. I love it! Autumn's Healing is a highly recommended
read!

They
ended up in each other’s arms. Salem’s pulse was already racing
from the strange events, but his interest in Kaylah was undeniable.
He seized the moment and captured her lips.

At
first, she froze, and he thought she might push him away.

A
small sound erupted from the back of her throat and she pressed her
mouth firmly to his. She fisted her hands into his shirt and pulled
herself up against him. She’d be fully aware of his arousal, but
that knowledge only seemed to excite her. She hauled him even closer,
gripping his shirt so tightly her fingers bit into his abdomen. To
his shock, she snaked her other hand downward, palming his hard-on.
Unprepared, he choked at the unexpected but welcome grope.

The
pressure felt good. He pushed his length into her. She rubbed with
the heel of her hand. It had been a long time since he’d been with
a woman. He was afraid if he allowed her to continue, he might
embarrass himself over a couple of open-mouthed kisses and a few
strokes of his over-eager cock.

To
take the heat off him, he skimmed his fingers up under her shirt. She
stiffened and gripped his wrist. Then swiftly, she pulled away.

“I’m
sorry, Kay, I wasn’t thinking, I didn’t mean to make you uncomf—
Ahh, fuck!” He raked his hand through his hair.

“Neither
one of us was thinking,” she murmured as she took a step away.

In
a nervous gesture, Salem swiped a hand over the back of his neck. He
figured he’d kick himself out before she had the chance. “I’m
gonna go,” he said, heading for the door. “But I’ll be back in
the morning, and we’ll do a thorough walk-through. I’ll
definitely take a better look at the wiring issue.”

“Thank
you.” Her voice sounded raspy and sexy as all fuck.

He
let himself out. The screen door squeaked as it closed behind him.
Hazarding a quick look over his shoulder, he could barely make out
Kaylah’s silhouette in the entryway.

He’d
taken one step off the porch before he heard her soft voice.

“Salem…
don’t go.”

Salem’s
entire body tensed, his cock surged. Swiftly, he did an about-face
and, as best he could, he hopped back up the stairs, careful to avoid
the broken one. Kaylah pushed open the screen door and welcomed him
back inside.

Contest!

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About
the Author

H
K Carlton is a multi-published Canadian author of romance and its
varied sub-genres and couplings.